During the week, I joined a discussion about the identity of the City of Logan.
It’s always been a challenge, helping people feel part of a single community – not a suburb in the outskirts of Brisbane, a lunch stop between Brisbane and the Gold Coast, or an affordable housing option 30km from the “real” city.
There will be many opinions, and some may even say it’s an impossible task.
How do we make the people of Shailer Park care about the people of Kingston, the people of Underwood care about those in Beenleigh, or dwellers of Browns Plains to care about those living in nearby acreage?
Where is the common point of belonging?
As a newspaper editor, I see it as my responsibility to help find those points of community interest, the things which are of interest to a readership of diverse values, lifestyle and habit.
I make a conscious decision not to segregate our communities. Yes, there are stories which are of greater interest to one suburb than another – a new street, a park or a localised issue.
Then there are those issues which are of value to all, regardless of race, religion or locality.
One type of issue which we see that constantly bonds communities is pride.
As a city, everyone can be proud of the international-standard business being done by companies based at Berrinba or Loganholme. We can all be proud of our sporting heroes. And we can be immensely proud of the volunteers who give selflessly of their time and energy to make our neighbourhoods better places to live.
Because proud communities are progressive communities. When we see a new innovation, or a gold medal, or hundreds of people joining to clean up after a storm, we create momentum which inspires others to make small changes for the better.
Those changes might be to their homes, to their behaviour, or a good deed to others. Whatever the subtle change for the better, it contributes to the greater good.
And that’s what community is about – contributing to the greater good. In Logan, we’ve got that in spades and we’re fast progressing to become a thriving city where people want to work, live and play.
